It’s that time of year again, as one of the year’s largest franchise conventions is right around the corner. That’s right, the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) annual premier franchise event will take place this year in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand from February 15-18.

Tailored towards franchisees, franchisors, and their supplier partners, IFA’s convention is “the forum to build and enrich these relationships and ideas.” Learn best practices from industry leaders and hear what they have to say about how to not just survive, but thrive in this rapidly changing landscape. Featuring:

Educational sessions

Roundtables

Summits

Mini-super sessions

250 companies offering state-of-the-art tools and resources

The convention is sure to have something for everyone. Make the most out of this opportunity to learn about the “latest trends and information in the areas of franchise relations, management and leadership, financing, multi-unit growth, international growth, franchise development, social media, and more.”

I’m a Franchisor

If you’re a franchisor, this is precisely the event for you. Peruse the exhibit hall of nearly 250 companies offering state-of-the-art technologies to equip your franchise with everything it needs to take it to the next level, and meet with potential supplier chains to ensure sustainability as you grow! Attend various panels geared towards empowering franchise owners such as – the “Best Practices For Newer Franchisors” talk moderated by Dave Hood, President of the iFranchise Group or the “Employees Make or Break Your Brand: Real Life Lessons From Undercover Bosses” discussion moderated by Steve Greenbaum – CFE, CEO of PostNet International Franchise Corp.

And last but not least, the pièce de résistance – the keynote speakers. This year’s keynote speakers are a veritable who’s who of industry giants: including Mike Duke – the retired CEO of Walmart, Paul Brown – the CEO of Arby’s Restaurant Group, and Salim Ismail – the Executive Director of Singularity University and the former Vice President of Yahoo!’s “idea factor.” Listen as they share their stories and perspectives on the industry.

I’m a Franchisee

Just to be clear, the #IFA2015 Convention is not your typical franchise expo. The conversations taking place will be geared around more broad level thinking as the heads of major corporations and chains all gather together to share thoughts and ideas. However, it doesn’t mean potential franchisees are going to leave empty-handed. If you managed to score a ticket, the exchange of ideas can provide a lot of insight into the world of franchise. Observe, partake, and absorb everything that happens to identify franchisors that interest you and discover if the franchise industry is right for you.

Here are just a few questions to kick-off your exploratory journey in the fantastic world of franchise:

What does a day in the life of a franchise owner look like?

Are there any special education or experience requirements?

Are there any territory restrictions?

What is the typical lifecycle of a franchise?

How many franchisees are there currently for your business?

How much are franchise fees?

How much are royalties?

Do you assist with financing?

Do you assist with real estate selection?

Do you provide management training?

What is the support one can expect?

Are there any litigation issues currently in process?

In your experience, what type of people excel as a franchisee

Signpost at IFA2015

Our colleagues Brian Iredell and Tarek Osman of the Signpost National team will be attending this year’s conference. Email them at franchise@signpost.com to schedule time to meet and learn more about how Signpost automated marketing offers both franchisors and franchisees all the essentials to build lasting customer relationships and grow the franchise business.

So, if you’re a franchisor looking to expand your business or a potential franchisee looking for information, the #IFA2015 is sure to have it all. Attend, learn, and enjoy everything it has to offer.